GLAXOSMITHKLINE has made Emma Walmsley the most powerful women in the FTSE by choosing her to succeed Sir Andrew Witty as chief executive.

Emma Walmsley has been appointed as chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline

The 47-year-old, who joined the drugs giant in 2010 after 17 years with French cosmetics firm L’Oreal and runs its consumer healthcare business including brands such as Sensodyne and Panadol, will take over at the end of March.

She will join six other women at the helm of British blue chip companies, but Glaxo’s £80billion market value far exceeds those of the other female-led companies easyJet, Imperial Brands, Whitbread, Royal Mail, Kingfisher and Severn Trent.

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However the appointment of an internal candidate will likely disappoint investors such as star fund manager Neil Woodford, who claimed Glaxo needed a “fresh pair of eyes”.

Woodford has called for a radical restructuring of the business, including separating its consumer brands from its core business of developing and selling prescription drugs, but Glaxo believes its exposure to different markets is a strength in uncertain economic times.

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Walmsley was chosen to replace Sir Andrew Witty

Walmsley said: “We have momentum in the group and as the demand for medical innovation and trusted healthcare products continues to rise, we have the opportunity and the potential to create meaningful benefits for patients, consumers and shareholders.”

We have the opportunity and the potential to create meaningful benefits for patients

Emma Walmsley

Glaxo chairman Sir Philip Hampton said the company, under Witty’s neardecade-long leadership, had developed market-leading positions in pharmaceuticals, vaccines and consumer healthcare.

He added: “These provide excellent platforms for sustainable, long-term growth, and we are confident Emma will successfully build on these strengths.”

Ketan Patel, fund manager at EdenTree Investment Management, described Walmsley’s appointment as “a watershed moment for the sector”, as she will be the first female CEO of a global heavyweight pharma business.

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GlaxoSmithKline shares have fallen ½p to 1645p

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He said: “The choice of a candidate with no experience in pharmaceuticals will dampen the prospects of a potential break-up.

“The challenge awaiting for the new CEO should not be underestimated, with declining research and development returns, increased generic competition and pricing pressure from healthcare providers, especially in the US.”